Sister Irene Kohne, CSA

Sister Irene Kohne, CSA, (baptized Helen Kohne), died peacefully May 27, 2014, at Nazareth Center in Fond du Lac, WI.

Helen was born in Decatur, IN, on July 10, 1920, to Julius Kohne and Mary (Miller) Kohne.  She was one of six children, four boys and two girls. Both she and her sister Mary became Sisters of St. Agnes. Sister Irene made her profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1941.  Having graduated from St. Agnes School of Nursing, Sister Irene became a Registered Nurse in 1944. She received a B.S.N. from Marian College in 1946.  She did post graduate studies in Surgical Nursing at Marquette University and received an M.B.A. in Hospital Administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, in 1963.  In 1962 she had summer courses in Pastoral Leadership at Rockhurst College in Kansas City.  She also took Corporate Ministry courses toward an M.M. at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO, during 1973-1974.  Sister Irene was Clinical Instructor and Surgical and Emergency Room Supervisor at St. Agnes Hospital from 1944 to 1962.  She became the Assistant Administrator at St. Agnes Hospital in 1963 serving through 1966.  From August 1966 through May 1973 Sister Irene was the Administrator of St. Anthony Hospital in Hays, KS.  From 1974 to 1976 Sister was an Associate at the Center for Planned Change in St. Louis, MO.  She was also the part-time Director of Health Care Services at Cardinal Ritter Institute in St. Louis for one year. In 1977 Sister Irene became the Administrator of St. Francis Home of Fond du Lac, Inc., in Fond du Lac, WI, a position she held until she retired in 2003. After her retirement, Sister Irene became a volunteer at St. Francis Home until the present. Over the years Sister Irene was a member of various Health Associations and served on many Health Care Boards in the areas where she ministered. In December 1992, the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh awarded Sister Irene an Honorary Doctorate of Science.

Sister Irene was preceded in death by her parents Julius Kohne and Mary (Miller) Kohne, her brothers Leon, Carl, John and Jerome, and her sister, Sister Juliana (Mary) Kohne.

Sister is survived by her nieces and a nephew, and the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation will be at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, WI at 9:30 am followed by a prayer service at 11:00 am on Thursday, May 29, 2014.  Visitation for Sister Irene Kohne will also be on May 29, 2014, at 1:30 pm in St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, with visitation from 9:00 – 11:00 on Friday, May 30, 2014, at Holy Family Parish Church, 271 4th St. Way, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.   Father Vernon Wagner, Capuchin, and Father Ken Smits, Capuchin, will be the presiders.  Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.

Memorials can be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center and of Hospice Hope for their care of Sister Irene this past year.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes. www.zacherlfuneralhome.com